Warp knitting machine

ABSTRACT

In a warp knitting machine with bipartite knitting needles respectively having a hook part and a latch part displaceably mounted in the hook part, and provided with at least one needle bar for the hook parts of the knitting needles, there are included at least two entrainer bars for the latch parts, the entrainer bars being coordinated with the one needle bar, means operatively connecting a respective group of the latch parts to each of the entrainer bars so that the latch parts are actuatable thereby respectively for opening and closing the respective knitting needles, all of the latch parts being actuatable concurrently by the entrainer bars together, and a displacement mechanism connected to each of said entrainer bars respectively for independently displacing the same so as to actuate the respective latch parts operatively connected thereto.

United States Patent Peschl et al. [4 1 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] WARP KNITTING MACHINE Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum [72] Inventors: Elwin PM Ceska near Bmo; Attorney-Curt M. Avery, Arthur E. Wilfond, Herbert Frantisek Malasek, Sobesice near Brno; Vladimir Kolar, Brno, all of Czechoslovakia Assignees: W. Schlafhorst & Co.,

Monehenoladbach, Germany; Vyzkuniny Ustav Pletarsky, Brno, Czechoslovakia; part interest to each Filed: Nov. 18, 1970 Appl. No.: 90,492

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 18, 1969 Czechoslovakia ..7573/69 US. Cl ..66/86, 66/120 Int. Cl. ..D04b 23/00, D04b 27/00 Field of Search ..66/86, 84, 85, I20, 123

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Amidon ..66/86 L. Lerner and Daniel J. Tick ABSTRACT In a warp knitting machine with bipartite knitting needles respectively having a hook part and a latch part displaceably mounted in the hook part, and provided with at least one needle bar for the hook parts of the 1 knitting needles, there are included at least two entrainer bars for the latch parts, the entrainer bars being coordinated with the one needle bar, means operatively connecting a respective group of the latch parts to each of the entrainer bars so that the latch parts are actuatable thereby respectively for opening and closing the respective knitting needles, all of the latch parts being actuatable concurrently by the entrainer bars together, and a displacement mechanism connected to each of said entrainer bars respectively for independently displacing the same so as to actuate the respective latch parts operatively connected thereto.

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9 INVENTORS 13 Ervin PESQH}.

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saw 2 or 4 INVENTORS' Ervin PESCHL F'rontiek MAL ASEY Vladimir ACLTi-F PATENTED AUG 8 I872 SHEEI 3 BF 4 INVENTORS Ervin PESCHL Frclntiek MAUASEK Vladimir KOLAR PATENTEDAUG 8I972 3.681.944

saw u or 4 FIGS INVENTORS Ervin PESCHL Frantasek MALA'SE/ Vladimir KOUAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE The invention relates to warp knitting machine such as warp frame, Raschel knitting machine, sewingknitting machine or the like, and more particularly of the type having bipartite knitting needles, respectively having a hook part and a latch part displaceably mounted on the hook part, and provided with at least one needle bar for carrying the hook parts.

In the heretofore known warp knitting machines with bipartite knitting needles of that general type, a latch bar is coordinated with each needle bar, and the reciprocating displacement of both bars are controlled so that the hooks of the needles, when forming each row of stitches or course of the knitting fabric, are closed by the latch parts in the knocking-over position and are opened in the position wherein the thread is being filled. The number of patterns that are possible to be knitted with such warp knitting machines, is limited by the fact that it is not possible to effect the formation of stitches by selected needles in a selected course and the nonformation of stitches by other needles. Various auxiliary patterning mechanisms for knitting machines, such as drop plates, patterning presses for latch needles and the like, are in fact known, for attaining a greater number of possible patterns on such machines; however, these mechanisms are relatively complex and costly and, furthermore, place increased demands on the servicing of the machine.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide warp knitting machine on which patterns are formed without requiring the use of auxiliary. patterning mechanisms or devices.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided in accordance with the invention, in a warp knitting machine with bipartite knitting needles respectively having a hook part and a latch part displaceably mounted in the hook part, and provided with at least one needle bar for the hook parts of the knitting needles, at least two entrainer bars for the latch parts, said entrainer bars being coordinated with the one needle bar, means operatively connecting a respective group of the latch parts to each of the entrainer bars so that the latch parts are actuatable thereby respectively for opening and closing the respective knitting needles, all of the latch parts being actuatable concurrently by the entrainer bars together, and a displacement mechanism connected to each of the entrainer bars respectively for independently displacing the same so as to actuate the respective latch parts operatively connected thereto.

The formation of various patterns is afforded by the fact that in some selected courses, the latch parts actuated by one or more entrainer bars are displaced upwardly into the closed position of the knitting needles so that the respective needles form stitches, while the latch parts actuated by the remaining entrainer bar or bars remains in the lower knocking-over position and do not close the hooks of the knitting needles but form tucks instead. In the knitting of subsequent courses, the displacement of the individual entrainer bars can be controlled conversely, and if desired, the displacement of all the entrainer bars can be controlled concurrently pattemwise in specific courses, which means that in such a course either all the needles form stitches or all the needles form no stitches.

In order to form a diverse number of possible patterns, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the latch parts actuatable by the respective individual entrainer bars are located adjacent one another regularly or irregularly alternating by at least one respective latch part with one another, the entrainer bars being disposed one above the other. Thus, for example, to form specific patterns, all of the evennumbered latch parts can be actuated by one entrainer bar, and all of the odd-numbered latch parts by another entrainer bar.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the entrainer bars are constructed as latch bars having lead members to which all or some of the latch members are affixed. I

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, each of the entrainer bars is formed with a notch or groove wherein the foot of the latch parts, which are to be actuated by the respective entrainer bars, are received.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the latch parts are provided with notched bars at the bottom thereof, the notched bars being slidably mounted in grooves formed in the knocking-over bar, each of the entrainer bars having a rail projecting into respective recesses formed in the notched bars of the latch parts that are to be actuated by the respective entrainer bar.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the latch parts are provided with notched bars at the bottom thereof, the notched bars being slidably mounted in grooves formed in the knocking-over bar, each of the entrainer bars being provided pattemwise with pins for lifting the notched bars, the needle bar having a notched bar sinker for returning the latch parts to the lower position thereof.

The warp knitting machine of the invention permits the production, without auxiliary devices, of warp fabrics with patterns or designs formed by blind filling, with patterns similar to pressed patterns and drop plate patterns, and with crepe patterns, and also the production of looping plush as well as combinations of the aforementioned patterns or designs in a knitted fabric.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in warp knitting machine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 are sectional views of the components of the warp knitting machine of the invention, directly connected with the formation of the knitted courses; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in section, of a warp knitting machine which includes, as an example, the structural features of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In all the embodiments of the invention, the bipartite knitting needles I, referred to hereinafter only as knitting needles, are formed of a hook part 102 having a hollow stem in which a latch part 11 is guidingly displaceable. The hook parts 2 (only one of which is shown in the figure) are cast in lead members 2 which are fastened by screws 105 (FIG. to a needle bar 3 which is in turn fastened by screws or the like to swivel arms 4. The swivel arms 4 are mounted on bars 5 that are disposed in holders 6 that are secured to a carrier member 7 mounted on the frame 158 (FIG. 5) of the warp knitting machine. Pull rods 9, actuable by a displacement mechanism described hereinafter more fully with respect to FIG. 5, are connected to the swivel arms 4 by means of pivot pins 8.

Two entrainer bars 10 for the knitting needle latch parts 11 that are displaceable in-the hollow hook parts 102 of the knitting needles 1 are coordinated with the one needle bar 3. The entrainer bars 10 are located one above the other, each of the entrainer bars 10 being equipped for actuating the latch parts 1 l of some of the knitting needles, and all of the entrainer bars 10 together being equipped for actuating the latch parts 11 of all of the knitting needles. The latch parts 11 actuated by the individual entrainer bars 10 coordinated with the needle bar 3 are disposed adjacent one another in accordance with a regular or irregular pattern alternating one with the other by at least one latch part 1 1, respectively, for example so that all even-numbered latch parts 11 are actuated by the one entrainer bar 10 and all the odd-numbered latch parts 1 1 are actuated by the other entrainer bar 10.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, each entrainer bar 10 is constructed as a latch part bar in which lead members 12, bestudded in a pattern with less than the total number of latch parts 11, are mounted. Naturally, the combined total of the latch parts 11 in both entrainer bars 10 correspond to the number of the hook parts 102 in both entrainer bars 10 together.

The entrainer bars 10 are carried by swivel arms 13 that are mounted on pivot rods 14, which are in turn supported by a carrier member 16 that is secured to the frame 158 (FIG. 5) of the warp knitting machine. The swivel arms 13 are connected by means of pivot pins 17 to pull rods 18 that are actuated by a displacement mechanism described hereinafter more fully with respect to FIG. 5, each of the entrainer bars 10 having its own displacement mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 5, the needle bar 3 performs an upward and downward reciprocatory movement the direction of a double-headed arrow S and S The latch bars 10 also perform reciprocatory movements upwards and downwards in direction of the doubleheaded arrow 8;, and S Each swivel arm 4 is connected by a respective pin 8 to a respective pull rod 9 which is, in turn, connected by a pin 121 with a respective rocking lever 122. The rocking lever 122 swings or rocks about a bar or shaft 123 carried by holders 124 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 5) which are fastened by screws 125 to a support 126. The rocking lever 122 carries a pin 127 on which a roller 128 is rotatably mounted. The roller 128 is controlled by and follows the surface of a control cam 181 provided with two lifter lobs 182 and 183. The cam 181 is fastened on to a shaft 130 which is mounted in bearings 131 screwed by screws 132 to the support 126.

Each of the swivel arms 13 for the respective entrainer bars 10 is connected by a pin 17 to respective pull rods 18 which are in turn secured by respective pins 133 and 133a to oscillating or rocking levers 136 and 136a, respectively, which rock or swing about the fixedly mounted rod or pivot 123. A roller 137 is rotatably mounted on the pin 135, and a roller 137a is rotatable mounted on a nonillustrated corresponding pin, the rollers 137 and 137a being controlled or following the surfaces of a respective control cam 138 and 138a mounted on the shaft 130.

Warp threads 139 and 140 are unwound from warp beams 41 and 42 respectively and are guided over back rests 143 and 144 to eye needles 27 which are cast in lead members 147 and 148 and which are secured on guide bars 149 and 150 respectively.-

The knitting needles 1 are guided in notched or grooved bars 151 of a knocking-over bar 22.v Knitted fabric 28 is withdrawn by three draw-ofi rollers 154, 155 and 156 and are wound into a package 159. Side walls 158 (only one being shown in FIG. 5) of the knitting machine are connected by the supports 111 and 126 which extend transversely therebetween.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, each entrainer bar 10 is formed with a groove 19 into which there extends the respective foot 20 of those latch parts 11 that are to be actuated by the respective entrainer bar 10. Short and long latch parts 11 with feet 20 located thereon at different heights are disposed in a pattern adjacent one another.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the latch parts 11 have notched bars 21 in the lower part thereof with which they are displaceably mounted in grooves formed in the knocking-over bar 22.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, each entrainer bar 10 is provided with a strip or rail 23 which projects into recesses 24 of the notched bars 21 of each latch part 1 1 that are to be actuated by the respective entrainer bar 10. As in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2, short and long latch parts 11 with recesses 24 formed therein at different heights are disposed in a pattern adjacent one another in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, each entrainer bar 10 is studded in a pattern with pins 25 for lifting the notched bars 21. To return the latch parts 11 to the lower position thereof, as viewed in FIG. 4, the needle bar 3 is provided with a notched bar 26.

The aforedescribed warp knitting machine operates asfollows:

When forming a row of stitches, the hook parts 2 of the knitting needles 1 are moved from the lower knocking-over position thereof to the upper position thereof for thread laying, wherein the eye needles 27 lay warp threads 139 and 140 into the hooks of the hook parts 2 of the knitting needles 1. In the return motion of the hook parts 2 back to the knocking-over position thereof, a number of the needle books can be closed by the upwardly moving latch parts 11 of the knitting needles 1 while the hooks of the remaining knitting needles 1, whose latch parts 11 are not lifted, remain open. Those latch parts 11 whose entrainer bar 10 is lifted by the displacement mechanism therefor is displaced into the closed position of the knitting needles. Latch parts 11 that are actuated by an entraining bar 10 which is not lifted by the displacement mechanism therefor when this row of stitches is being formed, remain in the lower position thereof as viewed in FIG. 5, for example. With such control of the movements of the entrainer bars 10, the first-mentioned group of knitting needles forms stitches in this row, while the knitting needles of the second-mentioned group form no stitches, but rather, form tucks.

When forming the next row of stitches, in accordance with the selected pattern, the displacement of the entrainer bars can either be controlled in the same manner as for the aforementioned row of stitches or opposite thereto, so that the knitting needles which previously formed stitches will now form no stitches, and those knitting needles which previously formed no stitches, will now form stitches. In some rows, the displacement of both entrainer bars 10 can be controlled concurrently, in fact so that either all the knitting needles from stitches or all the knitting needles form no stitches.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the latch parts 11 are carried by the entrainer bars 10 thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the latch parts 11 are entrained by the fact that the feet thereof extend into the grooves 19 formed in the entrainer bars 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, each entrainer bar 10 entrains the notched bars 21 of each latch part 11 as the rails 23 of the entrainer bars 10 project into the recesses 24 formed in the notched bars 21. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the notched bars 21 with latch parts 11 are lifted by each entrainer bar 10 by means of the respective pins 25 which extend from the entrainer bars 10 so that they are beneath the notched bars 21. All of the latch parts 11, in this case, are returned simultaneously into the lower position thereof, as viewed in FIG. 4, by means of the sinker 26 of the notched bars 21.

The knitted web or fabric 28 formed by the warp knitting machine of the invention, is withdrawn over the edge of the knocking-over bar 22 in the direction of the associated arrow, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

We claim:

1. In a warp knitting machine with bipartite knitting needles respectively having a hook part and a latch part displaceably mounted in the hook part, and provided actuatable concurrently by said entrainer bars together, and a displacement mechanism connected to each of said entrainer bars respectively for independently displacing the same so as to actuate the respective latch parts operatively connected thereto.

2. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts actuatable by the respective entrainer bars are located adjacent one another and regularly alternate by at least one respective latch part with one another.

3. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts actuatable by the respective entrainer bars are located adjacent one another and alternate irregularly by at least one respective latch part 2. War g k r ting machine according to claim 1, wherein said entrainer bars for said latch parts are disposed one above the other.

5. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said entrainer bars are constructed as latch bars having lead members to which at least some of the latch members are afiixed.

6. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said entrainer bars is formed with a groove, and the latch parts to be actuated by the respective entrainer are formed with respective feet received in said groove.

7. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts comprise respective notched bars located at the bottom thereof, and including a knocking-over bar located adjacent said notched bars and being formed with grooves therein, said notched bars being slideably mounted in said grooves of said knocking-over bar, said notched bars being formed with recesses, and each of said entrainer bars having a rail projecting into the recesses formed in the notched bars of the respective latch parts that are to be actuated by the respective entrainer bar.

8. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts comprise respective notched bars located at the bottom thereof and including a knocking-over bar located adjacent said notched bars and being formed with grooves therein, said notched bars being slideably mounted in said grooves of said knocking-over bar, said entrainer bars carrying pins in a pattern for. lifting said notched bars, said needle bar having a notched bar sinker engageable with said notched bars for returning the latch bars to knockingover position thereof. 

1. In a warp knitting machine with bipartite knitting needles respectively having a hook part and a latch part displaceably mounted in the hook part, and provided with at least one needle bar for the hook parts of the knitting needles, at least two entrainer bars for the latch parts, said entrainer bars being coordinated with the one needle bar, means operatively connecting a respective group of the latch parts to each of said entrainer bars so that the latch parts are actuatable thereby respectively for opening and closing the respective knitting needles, all of the latch parts being actuatable concurrently by said entrainer bars together, and a displacement mechanism connected to each of said entrainer bars respectively for independently displacing the same so as to actuate the respective latch parts operatively connected thereto.
 2. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts actuatable by the respective entrainer bars are located adjacent one another and regularly alternate by at least one respective latch part with one another.
 3. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts actuatable by the respective entrainer bars are located adjacent one another and alternate irregularly by at least one respective latch part with one another.
 4. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said entrainer bars for said latch parts are disposed one above the other.
 5. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said entrainer bars are constructed as latch bars having lead members to which at least some of the latch members are affixed.
 6. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said entrainer bars is formed with a groove, and the latch parts to be actuated by the respective entrainer are formed with respective feet received in said groove.
 7. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts comprise respective notched bars located at the bottom thereof, and including a knocking-over bar located adjacent said notched bars and being formed with grooves therein, said notched bars being slideably mounted in said grooves of said knocking-over bar, said notched bars being formed with recesses, and each of said entrainer bars having a rail projecting into the recesses formed in the notched bars of the respective latch parts that are to be actuated by the respective entrainer bar.
 8. Warp knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the latch parts comprise respective notched bars located at the bottom thereof and including a knocking-over bar located adjacent said notched bars and being formed with grooves therein, said notched bars being slideably mounted in said grooves of said knocking-over bar, said entrainer bars carrying pins in a pattern for lifting said notched bars, said needle bar having a notched bar sinker engageable with said notched bars for returning the latch bars to knocking-over position thereof. 